Apparatus and method for examining material



July 29, 1930. I J UNDERWOOD ET Al." 1,771,697 I APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXAMINING MATERIAL A Filed Oct. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 24 /6 I8. 15 2% may 1 25 ff 1 INVESTORS James Underwood an O 1 John JBamet 10 i l BY [I Ea A27 W ATTORNEY July 29, 1930. UNDERWQOD 'ET AL 1,771,697

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EXAMINING MATERIAL Filed Oct. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ 2/ Fi 5 9 ;3'1 .:r r I F; 'Y J Gamer "2y J Zyon r JBa m e? Min,

ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1930 UNITEDFS'TATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES uivnnnwoon, or BANGOR, AND JOHN J. BARNET, or nasmoiaji niv vsrnvanm,

ASSIGNORS TO JULIUS KAYSEB & (30., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK - arrnaa'rns AND-METHOD non EXAMINING MATERIAL This invention relates to improvements in a method of and apparatus for use in examining materials, such as knitted or woven textile goods;

One object of this invention is to provide a method whereby the material to be examined or inspected is held between a translucent and a transparent member which cooperate toifiatten the materialiand a source low, the provision. of improved means for clamping the materlal without danger of damaging the SaIIIGfthB PIOVlSIOII'Of improved means for illuminatingthe under side of the table, and the provision of an improved smoothing implement-of transparent ma terial. I 7

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and in the novel method hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the said claims.

It should be understood that various changes may be made in the constructional details of the apparatus without. departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings Figure 1 is avertical sec-' tional view of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the apparatus showing the upper part thereofdrawn to a smaller scale; i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a part of the apparatus; v c i Fig. 4 is a front view of the same; and,

be examined upon the inclined illuminated Application filed October 1s, 1928. Serial No. 313,232.

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in section, of the transparent smoothing implement.

It will be understood that theapparatus may be adapted for use by a single inspector or examiner, but in its preferred form the apparatus is built with'a plurality of inspecting or examining stations mounted upon the same frame as shown at Figs. Sand 4 of the drawings. i 1

The apparatus is made with a box-like structure or casing 10 which may be either sod subdivided or may be open from end to end in the case of a multiple station apparatus. This structure 10 is mounted upon supporting legs 11, braced together near their lower ends b means of cross bars 12 and alongitudinal bar 13, which latter carries brackets 14 for the purpose hereinafter: described. The structure' lO is formed at each examining station with an opening 15 within which is mounted a translucent panel. consisting of two glass plates 16, 17, the-upper plate 16 being of ground glass with its smooth side, uppermost and the under plate 17 being of plain transparent glass, and surrounding the glass plates 16, 17 on all four edges are stripsl8 of soft rubber having exposed edges for contact with the material being examined, so. as to avoid the possibility ofdamage to such goods. Mounted on thebackboard 19 and projecting forwardly into the boxlikestru0- ture 10 are a number of electric lamps 20 by means of which the interior ofthestructui'e illuminated and the internal surfaces of the structure 10 are'preferably painted white or are otherwise provided with light-reflecting surfaces to facilitate the proper and uniform illumination of the glass plates 16, 17L Behind the inclinedilluminated panels the structure 10 has a'number of hinged covers 2'l to give convenient access to the lamps 20' and to receptacles 22 provided with floors, 23' at the end of the rows of lamps.

For conveniently clamping the material to" panel there is provided at the right-hand side of eachof such panels a rubber or other like SOfl'iCliSlllOIl 24 upon which one end of-the upper part of the structure 10. For the operation of this clamp a rod 27 extends through the upper and lower part of the structure and has a spring 28 in compression between a collar 29 on the rod'27 and a fixed collar30 engaging the under side of the inclined part of the structure 10, so that the clamp 25 is normally held by spring action upon the cushion 24 or upon the material clamped between the parts 24 and 25. The lower part of the rod '27 has a collar 31 engaged by the forked end 32 of a lever 33 fulcrumed at 34c an'dconnecte-d by means ofa rod 35 to a treadle or toot-control lever 36 pivotally mounted in the brackets 14 hereinbefore'referred to, so that depression of the pedal 36 raises the clamp25 which latter is returned to its clamping position by the ac- ;tion of the spring28- as soon as thev-treadle is released.

l he smootheni-ng 'implement'37 consists of a plate of beveled transparent glass having a handle 38, and as thisinnalement is moved over the material being inspected it serves to flatten or smooth the material and thus facili:

tate proper inspection andthe detection of flaws, irregularities,or other imperfections. In'Fi-g. 3 of the drawings theimplement .37 is'shown .in use straightening'or smoothing the leg portion of a stocking supportedv on .the inclined illuminated panel and held by the end clamp 25. i

Although the above specification and the accompanying drawings "disclose the best modein which we have contemplated embodying our invention, we desire to be in no' translucent member, illuminating said member, applying to the material a flattransparent member, moving the transparent .member over the surface of the material to smooth the same, and exammlng. the mate:

rial by observation thereof through the I transparent member.

material which 3. Apparatus for use in inspecting material comprising a box-like structure, a translucent panel therein, foot-operated means for use in clamping one edge of the material upon the panel, and relatively movable means for smoothing the free portion of the material upon the panel.

4. Apparatus for use in examining material comprising a translucent inclined panel, a spring clamp for holding one edge of the material adjacent'to the panel, foot-operated means for releasing the said clamp, and relatively movable means for smoothing the free part of the material upon the panel.

5. Apparatus for use in examining material. comprising a boX-likestructure, an inclined. translucent panel in the structure, means within the structure for illuminating the under side of the panel, clamping means for holding one edge of the material adjacent to the panel, andla relatively movable transparent device for smoothing the tree portion of the material upon the translucent panel. 6. Apparatus for use in examining material comprising an inclined illuminated table, soft marginal strips surrounding said table. means for clamping one edge of each piece of material upon one of said marginal strips, and means for smoothing the free portion of the material upon said table.

7. Apparatus for use in examining material comprising a box-like structure, an inclined translucent panel in the upper part of the structure, a sourceiof illumination within the structure, soft marginal strips surrounding'the panel, a clamp for holding oneinarginal edge of the material adjacent one side of the panel, and means for smoothing the free portionof the material upon the surface of the panel;

"In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

' JAMES UNDERVVOOD.

JOHN J. BARNET.

2. A method of examining material which comprises supporting the mate-rial'upon the iunper side of a'; fiattranslucent member Qclampi'ng one edge of the material, applying a source of illumination below such" member, applying-- above the 'material fl'; flat trans- I parent;- memb'er, unioving -theg transparent member relatively to j saicl-clamped edge and over will? surface :ofthe material-to smooth and 'fiatten'the s'ame,'and examining thema- 'teri'al by observation vthrc'nigh the trans-pan 

